Hello everyone! I just went through each of the chapters and heavily edited them. Because of this, some plot points may be changed, so I recommend going back and reading them again. Thank you so much for reading, and enjoy this new chapter!
12.
I don't know whether to be happy or terrified. Was I really that good? Or, are they deliberately trying to stick a giant target on my back? Everyone is ecstatic, Safa nearly screams in excitement, Seraphina and Angel are doing some kind of happy dance. Do they really not understand what this means? Daton, Xavier, and I all know what this means. I try to look happy for the sake of the prep team, but I can't help but feel as if I just ruined any shot of winning these games. I'm for sure a target to the Careers now, President Rose may see me as even more of a threat than before.
"Willow… Congratulations," Daton says. "Now, tomorrow Safa and I will be coaching you for interviews. It will be your last chance to earn sponsors for the games, so tomorrow's coaching will be critical."
"Yes, I'll teach you how to present yourselves properly, and Daton will help with what to say," Safa explains. "We'll train you guys separately. Willow, you'll be with me for the first four hours, then with Daton for the next four. Xavier, you'll start with Daton and end with me."
"Alright," I say, still shocked at my 12. The training score reveals are broadcast throughout all of Panem, so there's no doubt my family has seen my score. I can almost see it: Mom, emotionless staring at the screen. Rye, thinking I showed them up and proven myself. Dad, terrified of what this score means and fighting off flashbacks. Iris, still stuck in her child-like mind, proud because she doesn't understand.
We're dismissed to our rooms. I sit for a few extra moments, still taking in my score. "Good job, Willow," I hear Xavier say. "What the hell did you do in there?" Daton asks, walking back into the room. "I promise I didn't do anything bad. I shot down nine of those cloth bags at once before my fingers started to bleed," I explain, picking at the bright red scabs on my fingertips. "I left when I was dismissed, too. I didn't do anything to provoke them. What does this mean?"
"Well, I don't know," Daton replies. "Maybe you were just that good," Xavier says. "Maybe they're trying to make you a target for both other tributes and sponsors," Daton says. "There hasn't been a 12 since the 75th games. Since my parents," I say. "I know," He responds. What if they're trying to make me look like them? No, President Rose wouldn't want that. He wouldn't want me to look rebellious like them. What if Tesla Halo wants me to look like that? Is she trying to set up something here?
"Willow," I hear Xavier faintly. "You need to calm down and breathe." I didn't even notice I was holding my breath. I snap back to reality and take in a large breath of air. "You okay?" Daton asks. I nod and respond, "I'm fine. I need to get some sleep." I walk out of the room before either of them can say another word. I strip down to my underclothes, not bothering to put on proper nightclothes, then quickly fall asleep.
The next morning, my eyes slowly blink open. My vision clears, and I see Safa standing above my bed with a huge smile. "Good morning, Willow!" She exclaims, way too loud for this time of the morning. The volume of her voice makes me jump, sending my body to the floor in front of where she stands. "Oh! Sorry, sweetie!" She helps me up from the ground and apologizes again. "We have a very big day, Willow. So we best start as early as we can!"
Fantastic. The sun is barely starting to peer into the darkness of dawn. It's too early for this. We eat breakfast in my room and discuss everything we'll be doing today. First, I'll practice walking in heels. Then, she'll teach me the proper way to do practically everything. She's quick to throw the long, blue satin dress on me after we eat. She also shoves some high heels onto my feet and ties my hair up into a makeshift bun. She stacks two books on my head and simply tells me to walk. It takes nearly twenty tries, but I eventually walk the whole way across my room without either of the books falling over. The next three hours are torture. She sits me in a chair, forces my back to stay abnormally straight, and asks me the same odious questions over and over again. Every time I slump my shoulders or lessen my smile, she smacks my hand and makes me start again.
By lunch, my head aches from the strain on my jaw, and my hand is slightly red from her smacks. Daton, Safa, Xavier, and I all eat together to discuss what will happen tomorrow. Tomorrow, our prep teams get full control. I'll be with Seraphina and the prep team for most of the day while they make me look Capitol ready. Then, our interviews will be broadcast throughout all of Panem. Daton, apparently, is going to help me decide how I'll present myself to the audience. Some tributes decide to make themselves look sexy. Some try to look terrifying to let sponsors know they're planning on winning. I'm sure both Xavier and Jay are going for charming. They both easily draw people, like me, in.
I, on the other hand, am shy. I don't hate everyone like Mom does, but I'm not much of a crowd-pleaser. After lunch, Daton sits me down on a couch in the living room and stares at me. "What?" I ask. "I'm trying to figure you out, Willow," He says. "You're shy, closed off to the rest of the world. I barely know what kind of person you are."
"Yeah, that just about sums me up," I respond. "But there's more than that. How about, we try a random approach," He suggests. First, we try sexy. That failed within the first minute. "Alright, how about we try to be desirable. You've already got sponsors lining up at the door for you because of your parents and training score, but we need something more. If they see your only personality trait is archery, they'll all leave. You need something more," He explains. "Something heartwarming?" I suggest. "Yes!" He snaps his fingers as if a lightbulb went off in his head. "Make them feel bad for you! Talk about your little sister and the rest of your family. Make them feel pity for you."
"I can't only talk about them," I say. "I need to show everyone I'm not like my parents, that I'm different."
"Yes, but the main way you'll get sponsors is by reminding them of the beloved star crossed lovers of District 12. Willow, you've already proven you're different from the private training sessions, focus on the sponsors now." He has a point, but they're already comparing me to my Mom. I'm not her, I didn't blatantly shoot at the gamemakers, or defy the President. I don't think Daton understands, but for the safety of my family, I can't make President Rose think I'll spark any sort of rebellion.
Despite this, I nod. Maybe it is better for the sake of my survival? I just have to be careful with every word I say on that stage tomorrow night. Daton asks me some questions pretending to be both Roseclear and Maxwell, switching between two chairs while impersonating each of them. I answer truthfully while watching my mouth. When he asks me about my parents, I avoid speaking of the rebellion and focus on their time in the Capitol. Time ticks by, and we get called for dinner.
Xavier and Safa make their way to the dining table around the same time I do. The meal is cooked pork slices with a side of creamy mashed up potatoes. On the side are some rolls, similar to the fluffy ones my dad has made before, covered in a buttery garlic sauce. "So," Safa starts. "Do you two feel prepared for the interviews?" "Yeah, as prepared as I can be," Xavier responds. "Well, what about you, Willow?" She asks. I shrug my shoulders. I did alright once we figured out what to do, but I still don't know how good of an idea it is. "I'm sure you'll do great," Xavier tells me with a smile. I smile back, then continue eating.
The next day, Seraphina is the one to wake me up. Thankfully, she wakes me at a reasonable time instead of the crack of dawn. My room is already glowing with the yellow sun, making me miss my little Iris. She always brightened up my morning like the sun does now. We eat brunch, a cold vegetable soup with fish, and then the rest of the prep team walks in. "Has Seraphina showed you the sketches yet?" Denny asks, referring to the dress I'll be wearing tonight. "No," I respond. "Seraphina! You must show her how stunning the dress is!" Pixi exclaims. "Pixi, be patient. I'll show her after so we can surprise her!" Seraphina says. I smile at their happiness, then let them drag me into the shower.
They pick vanilla-scented products for my shower, reminding me of Dad's baking. They pull me to different places around my room for the different parts of my body that need Capitol touches. Then, finally, Seraphina brings out my dress. It's in a black bag so I can't see it yet. "Close your eyes," She says. I close my eyes and imagine home. Dad and Iris frost yellow flowers on a cake while Mom and Rye sit at the fireplace, skinning what we caught that day. Outside, through the window, I see a light layer of snow dust the ground. It's not winter now, snow won't show up back home for a few more months, but I've always loved it. The delicate, light snow falling from the sky and landing gracefully in the grass. Beautiful.
"Willow," Seraphina's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "Open your eyes." I open them. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the light, all I see are the blurry figures of my prep team. But, when they do, I'm stunned. My face is covered in makeup, yet looks so natural. Gold glitter dusts my eyelids and the high points of my face. I have black lining my eyes, the corner pulling up into a wing, and fire red lipstick. My hair is up in a braided bun with curled strands falling onto my face. The dress is the real showstopper, though.
It's a long, red dress that is tight at my abdomen but flows down into a fluffy skirt that ends at my ankles. It has gold jewels that gradient from bottom to top, looking like a burning ember. I look absolutely stunning. Seraphina helps me with my shoes, which are gold heels (thankfully a bit shorter than the ones Safa has me wear), then smiles at me. "You look stunning, Willow." "Thank you," I mutter out, still in awe of the gown she made me. The sun is starting to set, painting the beautiful sunset orange Dad loves so much. The door opens, and Safa walks in, dressed up in a light blue dress. "Oh, my word! You look incredible!" She exclaims.
"Thank you," I reply. We make our way to the elevator, then down to the Avenue of Tributes where the interviews will be held. Xavier and Daton are the first people I see. Daton wears a suit, which I guess Safa had to fight to get on him, and Xavier wears a black tux with red accents. He also had gold on the high points of his face and the cuffs of his bottoms. "Wow," He says. "What?" I ask. "You just look… different," He says. "Yeah, I know," I respond. "It's a good different. You look… beautiful," He says. I smile and blush lightly at his compliment. "Thank you. You don't look too bad yourselves," I say. He blushes the same amount I did, then smiles at me. Angel pulls him aside, and Seraphina walks to my side. "Nervous?" She asks me. I nod. "Don't be. Just be honest, but careful, and act like you're talking to a friend," She says. "What friend will you imagine on that stage?"
I think of Rye, but he already knows everything about me. Xavier? Yeah, out of everyone here, he's the only one I trust with any information about myself. "Xavier," I say. "Okay, good. Just imagine you're talking to Xavier," She says. I nod and look at him. He's talking with Angel, flashing a smile and laughing. He's gonna be great up there, I think to myself. "Willow," I hear behind me. I turn around and see Jay. He wears a blue-green suit with a black tie, belt, and shoes. He smiles at me, and I smile back. "You look… stunning," He says, mouth slightly open in awe. "Thank you," I say. Do I compliment him? "You... look good, too," I say awkwardly. Damn, I've never been good with this type of thing. "Good luck up there, Willow. I'm sure you'll be the highlight of the night," He says with another smile, even brighter than the first. "You too," I say, then walk off to Xavier.
"Nervous?" He asks me. "Geez, why does everyone keep asking me that? Of course I am," I say with a scowl. "Sorry…" He says. Realizing I may have snapped at him, I apologize. "Willow, Xavier." Safa runs up to us. "It's time!" Stage fright shoots through my body fast, nearly sending me to the ground. I didn't realize how nerve-wracking this would be for me until now. I was only nervous before, now I'm terrified. "Willow," I hear Xavier say. "Calm down, it's going to be okay." He grabs my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze.
All the tributes line up with District 1 at the front and Xavier and I at the back. Girls stand on the right, and boys on the left next to each other. "I'll hold your hand until we sit, okay?" He says. I nod and smile, thankful for his helpful attempts. "And now," I hear Roseclear. "Here are this year's Tributes for the 14th annual Hunger Games!" District 1 steps out, the crowd goes wild. We all file onto the stage, then sit in chairs that line the back. Once we're seated, Roseclear and Maxwell call Brian up for his interview. We're each given three minutes, then a buzzer goes off, signaling the end of our segment and the beginning of the next tributes. Brian, unsurprisingly, goes for confident and arrogant throughout this interview. He tells everyone, "I want to win, not for myself, but for my District." Next is Camilla, who radiates confidence and beauty. She wears an all gold dress, and her skin is covered in gold powder.
Jerry, the boy from 2, is shy and dedicated. Determined to go home and start a family. Bella's hair has been freshly dyed white, and she wears a blood-red dress. She's arrogant, but sweet, and says she wants to win to prove herself to her family. District 3 goes by, then Jay walks on to the stage and. Like I guessed, he's going for charm. The audience is already all over him, both boys and girls alike. Roseclear and Maxwell never have to draw the attention of the crowd when he's onstage. For about a minute or so, Jay and Maxwell both impersonate Roseclear, making the audience double over in laughter. "Now, Jay," Roseclear says. "You are a very handsome young man. I think we can all agree with that statement, can't we folks?"
The audience cheers and claps in response. "And, my question is, do you have a girlfriend back in District 4 that you're fighting for?" He asks. Jay blushes, and it's almost like all his confidence has fled from him. "Uh… no, I don't." He says unconvincingly. He's gone from the slightly arrogant, charming boy I know, to a shy and closed off one. "Well, there must be some special girl," Maxwell says. "Come on, what's her name?" Jay sighs in response. "Well, there is this girl…" He says. Of course, there is. I mean, look at him, he's attractive. I wouldn't be surprised if every girl in 4 was all over him. "It's a pretty recent crush, but she took my breath away the moment I saw her. She didn't even know I was alive until the reaping, though."
There are sounds of sympathy echoing from the crowd because of Jay's crush that will never have a chance to grow into more. "Does she have another lover?" Maxwell asks. "I don't know, but I bet she has a lot of other boys that like her," He responds. "Please tell us her name so she can root for you to win!" Roseclear basically begs. "No," Jay says. "Winning won't help in my case." Oh geez, just the other day he was telling me he hated people faking their love. Here he is now, about to confess his love to Isla to get a boost in sponsors. "Well, why not?" Roseclear asks. "Well, first off, she's… uh… from another District," He responds slowly. Oh? "Oh?" Maxwell questions along with me. "A girl from another District? Whoever could this be?" Roseclear pushes. Jay blushes red and stutters out,
"Her name is… uh... her name is W-Willow Mellark."